MOTOR REGISTRATIONS

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18366, 27 April 1925, Page 10

MOTOR REGISTRATIONS

MANUFACTURE OF PLATES IN N.Z.

HON. R. F. BOLLARD'S ATTITUDE

Report in 2 to Friday night's meeting of the executive of the Industrial Association, Mr E. H. Marriner, the president, stated that last month while in Wellington he waited on the Hon. R. F. Bollard, Minister of Internal Affairs, on the subject of the manufacture in New Zealand of registration plates for motor-cars. Mr Marriner said that the Minister gave him to understand that he was in favour of these plates being manufactured in the Dominion, and if they could be made at a. price within 20 per cent, of the price of imported plates he would be favourable to them being obtained in New Zealand, lie Minister told him that the imported plates were landed just under Is each —at ll|d —the Department makijig a small fraction, of profit on each plate. Before anything; was done in reepect of next year's supply New Zealand manufacturers would be given an opportunity to tender for them. Tenders. ■\Vould be out early next- month for the new plates. He had brought before the Minister the fact that one or two New Zealand manufacturers had been making plates at 7s 6d, 12s 6d. snd los, and that they wanted to know if their industry was to cease because the Government would not allow their plates to be 'used. The Minister had seen the force of the point raised, but had stated that as things were at present no other plates but those issued by the Department could be used. He (Mr Bollard) thought that the matter might be considered at a of motorists and others to be hold in Wellington about Mav 13th to consider matters relating to registration plates. Mr Bollard tad promised that an invitation to the conference would be sent to the Association and also to the New Zealand Industrial Corporation. He had received a letter from Mr Bollard giving the date of the conference. Mr Watkms, the president of the Industrial Corporation, was to attend the conference. He (Mr Marriner) understood that a Wellington firm was prepared to make the plates at 12fd each.